(SPOILER ALERT! This report outlines news events that are covered in Season 2 of HBO’s The Newsroom.) Creator-showrunner Aaron Sorkin took the wraps off a chunk of the forthcoming second season of his controversial HBO journalism drama tonight as a gift to voting members of the TV Academy, hoping that a little sneak peek will help win them over just as Emmy balloting gets underway. During an event at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Sorkin described that clip of The Newsroom as the first 15 minutes of the new campaign. “When I was wondering which clip to show, our costume designer said, ‘Well, you know nothing ever really happens in the first 15 minutes of everything you write’,” Sorkin quipped. That convinced him that he wouldn’t be leaking too many spoilers in what the packed house saw. However, it did reveal one or two.

SPOILER ALERT! The new season kicks off with a present-day deposition involving the lawyer portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden in a guest turn and features Jane Fonda returning as the CEO of the show’s fictional network parent company. It then flashes back to Aug. 23, 2011, and the beginning of Mohammar Gadhafi’s fall in Libya. If possible, the pacing is even faster rat-a-tat-tat and adrenalin-infused than it was in its inaugural season. Sample dialogue: Lawyer: “Fourteen months after you went on the air, you called the Tea Party ‘The American Taliban.’ What happened?” Anchor: “The Taliban resented it.”

Recent Comments

I LOVE THIS SHOW! I find the writing to be brilliant! I love the characters and the...

Bruce Reisman

2 years

And by the way, in the spirit of one episode, I don't believe comments should be anonymous...

Veola Luz

2 years

I agree! I think this show is absolutely marvelous - smart, engaging, clever, and inspirational. Those who...

Sorkin — appearing onstage with cast members Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Thomas Sadoski, Sam Waterston, Alison Pill, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and John Gallagher Jr. — admitted right off the top that everyone was feeling “a little bit punchy” because they had just wrapped principal photography on Season 2 some 48 hours earlier. The season, which premieres July 14, will be framed by a lawsuit indicated by the deposition seen at the beginning of the clip, which is “our version of the present day.” The time frame covered in the second season will be Aug. 23, 2011, through Election Night 2012 — about 14 1/2 months.

Sorkin had said during a PaleyFest event in March that the events being tackled in season two would include “the Tea Party/American Taliban; the general election including the primaries and conventions; Trayvon Martin; the Affordable Care Act; and drones.” And with the season ending in November 2012, there would be no coverage of the Sandy Hook tragedy. SPOILER ALERT! But another real-life news story that will be covered slipped out courtesy of Mortimer, who praised Sorkin’s “incredible foresight” in having one of the season’s main themes surround chemical weapons warfare. Of course, it came out just this week that Syrian government has been charged with using exactly that in their conflict. “It’s frustrating because Aaron wrote that months ago,” Mortimer said, “but it will now seem as if he was simply following that story.” Sorkin emphasized, however, that the show is “hardly ever driven by a news event, anyway.”

At one point, a debate erupted among the panelists – spurred by castmate Sadoski – regarding the occasional irresponsibility exercised by real-life news organizations. Sadoski’s beef was specifically with CNN for early on misidentifying the Boston Marathon bomber and failing to apologize for it. “Is there any consequence for getting it wrong?” he asked “I certainly haven’t heard an apology that felt remotely sincere.” Sorkin chimed in, “And in the name of what? Being first? I’ve never gotten a good answer to the question of what the value is in being first, other than bragging rights.”

But at the same time, Sorkin denied that he has any sort of anti-journalist agenda on The Newsroom, despite what many journalists and critics have written. “I know there are real journalists who feel the show is an attack on them,” he said, “but that’s the last thing that’s intended.” He added that there’s an episode during season two that is “an absolute love letter” to the job reporters do. “I’m as infatuated by what reporters do as I am public servants,” he said.

SPOILER ALERT: this will be this terrible show’s last season as no one cares about it. Should never have been re-upped for a second season.

sd • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

The problem with this show is that it rehashes yesterday’s news for its plotlines. The promos for season two centered around Occupy Wall Street, which peaked in 2011, and the presidential election. We already know what happened, but the characters are going to react to events as if they’re unfolding right then and there. That’s why the show is so damned boring – we know what happens, but the characters don’t.

Late to the party • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Aaron Sorkin is one of my favorite writers.

I finally got the first two episodes on Netflix the other day and watched the Pilot in excited expectation.

The opening was what I had already seen at least a dozen times on YouTube — epic. I’m a sucker for that stuff.

Then it all came crashing down. Hard. It was literally as if Aaron wrote the intro then someone else was hired to come in to finish and had too many Red Bulls while attempting to replicate Aaron’s voice. THEN the Pilot was shot and the director instructed the actors to all be over-the-top to the point of downright creepiness. (That blonde “assistant” LITERALLY creeped me out…)

What… The heck… Happened to this show???

I shook my head after the Pilot ended and hit eject. Maybe I’ll watch those first five minutes on YouTube another dozen times to wipe my memory of this debacle.

Informed • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

That’s literally exactly what happened. Wrote the pilot, then let his minions do the work. This time, they didn’t.

Truthteller • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Sorkin wrote all the scripts of season one, except for one in which he shared a credit.
Which “minions” do you think you are blaming the show on?

agree will all above • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

There is not one character in this series I find interesting or likable. Not one.

Truth time from a Sorkin Fan • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Was at this event last night and was really looking forward to hearing Sorkin and gang talk about last season and what changes he has coming for season two (some interesting things were said) but mostly I had to listen to Olivia Munn run her mouth FOREVER about NOTHING anyone in that room cares about. The Emmy voters are not there for you, dear. It’ll be hard for me to watch next season and not have a very real negative feeling about her. I was really surprised an HBO press rep didn’t kill her mic.

woody • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Had the same feeling. Everyone in the cast is SO intelligent. They BELONG in a Sorkin show. This twit is obviously window dressing and believes WAY TOO much of her own press. Keep the show smart. Write her out.

MollyMac • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Big Sorkin fan–WWing, The Social Network, Moneyball, etc. HATE this lame show. It’s lazy, overwrought, overacted, on the nose….a cartoonish world of cardboard characters. And did I mention insufferably smug? HATE it.

Jason S. • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Sports Night!! 1/2 hours don’t get much better then that. I’m a huge Sorkin fan but this show feels 20 years old. I hate those bow-ties Sam Waterston wears. Whose decision was that? In fact I hate the LOOK of the show. It’s so drab. Everyone wears white, black or grey. It’s lit Janusz Kaminski shot it. Works for Spielberg movies (for the most part)- not for a show like this.

EzGoingKev • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Are these people for real? There are people dying in Syria and they are upset that it will rob Aaron Sorkin of being considered a creative genius.

When I heard Mr. Sorkin had a new show coming out I thought of The West Wing and had high hopes. I wish this show would grow wings and fly away.

PitifulPeacock • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Yeah, that Emily Mortimer quote about Syria and Sorkin is monumentally dopey and insensitive, but have you ever read interviews with her? Not the brightest bulb. Her dad was John Mortimer, the British writer and barrister who wrote all those terrific “Rumpole of the Bailey” books, so I guess it skips a generation.

Billy • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Like a number of other posters here, I’m a huge Sorkin fan who finds this show unwatchable. If Aaron can’t make it work in the second season (an I’m thinking he won’t) I hope he has the good sense to shutter it.

Nic Newby • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

You know I find it funny,if none of you like this show, why the hell are you wasting your time making comments about it? I think this show is amazing, but if you don’t like it, don’t comment on it.

Jake • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Your comment is invalid. By your logic, there would never be a bad review of anything. Let the big boys critique a bad show. Run along now.

Feldstrom • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Yes, all TV criticism must be confined to praise. Warm and treacly observations only, people.

jrosen • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

Get real people. The show is well written & raised valid questions for Americans & journalists about what is news. Great writing for an incredibly talented cast. If people find it “unwatchable” they are part of the problem. Casey Anthony, Joey Arias or news & hard questions. It’s smart. Most Americans are not.

Einstein • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

“It’s smart. Most Americans are not.”

And naturally you are one of the smart ones. A shame your Mensa chapter didn’t hold a symposium on grammar and punctuation.

Joe • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

This is a great show. So glad it’s coming back soon, and can’t wait for it to be renewed for a third season… and a fourth… and a fifth… and so on. Those who don’t like it- DON’T WATCH IT. And more importantly- DON’T COMMENT ON IT. You’re wasting your time on something you view as a waste of time. That is DUMB.

PitifulPeacock • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

We’re commenting on something we think is dumb. Same thing you’re doing. But at least we’re debating the merits of a prominent TV show, which is an act of drama criticism. You’re criticizing comments.

Veola Luz • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

I agree! I think this show is absolutely marvelous – smart, engaging, clever, and inspirational. Those who dislike it so much must be producers of crap reality shows who are jealous of the quick-paced intelligent dialogue.

Ryan in L.A. • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

i just hope season 2 will be even more wordy and self-important than season one.

Caren S. • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

LOVE this show. Been waiting for the 2nd season w/ anticipation. Maybe it’s the history buff in me, but I think the topics are high interest. I knew how Watergate turned out, but still enjoyed “All the President’s Men”. Not every show has to be about the absolute present, space, or the “reality” struggles of people with IQs of 50.

TanyaS • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

I love the show…thank u HBO for the second season.. Can’t wait for July 14… Alan Sorkin is a fabulous writer and lives up to his reputation of a master creator.. Go Sorkin!!!

And by the way, in the spirit of one episode, I don’t believe comments should be anonymous so I added my last name. Watching season 2 again right now at 1:20 am. Just heard brilliant “Moses and Jesus” monologue delivered by Jane Fonda. Phenomonal writing!

Ann Whisenhunt • on Jun 13, 2013 11:56 pm

I LOVE THIS SHOW! I find the writing to be brilliant! I love the characters and the plots (although S1E2 was very disappointing.)I hope this show continues for many seasons! I’d hate to see this show go the way of Firefly!

There are a lot of shows on these days that I think are stupid, boring, insulting or just not interesting. I don’t watch them. If other people like those shows, that’s fine. I am not going to go out of my way to trash what other people like. Different people find different things entertaining. That’s why we have so many different shows and different channels.